Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Suri’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Suri’ particularly characterized by flowers which are yellow/green; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsishybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Suri’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Suri’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellowand red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Suri’ is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was todevelop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Suri’ originated from a cross made by the inventorin 2000 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seedparent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Anthura Gold’, patented.The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated‘(Malibu Real×amabilis)’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Suri’ wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in2008 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culturewas first performed in November, 2008 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, TheNetherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Suri’, which in combination distinguishthis Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are yellow/green;    -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;    -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using        tissue culture;    -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and    -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Suri’, the female parent‘Anthura Gold’ has yellow colored flowers and they are about 5 cm insize, the male parent ‘(Malibu Real×amabilis)’ has white colored flowersand they are about 7 cm in size, whereas the flowers of ‘Suri’ areyellow/green and are about 6 cm in size.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Suri’ can be meaningfullycompared is ‘Golden Dawn’ (unpatented). The flowers of ‘Suri’ areyellow/green and about 6 cm in size, whereas the flowers of ‘GoldenDawn’ are yellow and about 5 cm in size. The labellum of ‘Suri’ is whiteand yellow with a red/purple haze, whereas the labellum of ‘Golden Dawn’white and yellow (more yellow than ‘Suri’).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis ‘Suri’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘Suri’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘Suri’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘Suri’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Suri’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Suri’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Suri’ as grownin a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Suri’ is27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of‘Suri’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Suri’ are a minimum of 5,000lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Suri’ frompotting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. Theage of the ‘Suri’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Anthura Gold’, patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘(Malibu Real×amabilis)’, unpatented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-6            mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 196A); freely            branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue            culture to initiate roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest            flower): about 55 cm. Spread: about 35 to 50 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Small; green leaves (RHS 137A) and a            relatively normal raceme.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks            2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after            a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of            about 19° C. about 2 racemes with flowers appear.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 10 leaves are produced before            flowering.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two            sides.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval, narrow and the tip is little            pointy.        -   Texture (upper & under side).—Smooth and leathery.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Mature leaf length.—About 10 to 17 cm.        -   Mature leaf width.—About 6 cm.        -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green (RHS 137A) with            yellow/green edges (RHS 144B). Under side: yellow/green (RHS            146B).        -   Leaf base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper side:            green (RHS 137A). under side: yellow/green (RHS 146B).-   Raceme:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 3.        -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 10 to 26.        -   Length.—About 35 to 55 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.        -   Color.—Yellow/green (RHS 144A) with RHS 144C spots.        -   Internode.—Length: about 30 mm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 20 mm. Diameter(at            midpoint): about 15 mm. Shape: egg-shaped/oval. Color:            yellow/green (RHS 144C).        -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that            has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a            temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after            a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2            racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers            per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected            approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a            leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.        -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;            lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.        -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.        -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3            days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at            opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of            Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2. Size (of single bloom): Height:            about 50 mm. Diameter: about 60 mm. Depth of tube: about 8            mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: three petals and three            sepals that are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2            whorls. Petals are more pronounced than sepals. Arrangement:            Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2 lateral petals and            labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate,            little triangular and weakly cupped. Apex: oval. Margin:            entire and weakly undulate. Base: broadly ovate. Length:            about 30 mm. Width: about 30 mm. Texture: Upper surface:            smooth and satiny. Under surface: smooth and satiny. Color            (when fully opened): upper and under surface: A combination            of white (RHS 155C) with yellow/green (RHS 150D). Labellum:            Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at            central junction of the lateral lobes and base of the            midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the            column; the midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2            stubs appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum            are ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular with a            bump and a rib on it. Margin: entire and weakly undulate.            Apex: oval. Length: about 15 mm. Width (not flattened):            about 11 mm. Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and            satiny. Color (when fully opened): Midlobe, upper side:            white (RHS NN155C). At the base upper edges and a part of            the midvein are yellow (RHS 12A). On the yellow midvein is            also a little greyed/orange (RHS 172A). From base till            halfway a light red/purple haze (RHS 70B). Under side: white            (RHS NN155C). At the base, the edges are yellow (RHS 12A).            Lateral lobes, upper side: white (RHS NN155C). From base            till halfway yellow (RHS 12B) with greyed/orange spots (RHS            172A). Under edge is yellow (RHS 12A). Under surface: white            (RHS NN155C). Under edge is yellow (RHS 12A). Cirrhi: small            (about 3 mm). color: white (RHS NN155C). Pestle            (Callosities): Length: about 4 mm. Width (not flattened):            about 4 mm. Color: yellow/orange (RHS 17C) with            greyed/orange spots (RHS 172A). Sides are white (RHS NN155A)            with greyed/yellow spots (RHS 161A).        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall            shape: elliptical and weakly cupped. Margin: entire and            weakly undulate. Length: about 35 mm. Width: about 22 mm.            Apex: oval/round. Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth            and satiny. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface:            Dorsal: green/white (RHS 157D) with yellow/green (RHS 154D).            Lateral: Yellow/green (RHS 154C) with green/white (RHS            157D). At the base some small greyed/purple spots (RHS            184B). Under surface: Dorsal: Yellow/green (RHS 154D) which            runs into green/white (RHS 157D). Lateral: Yellow/green (RHS            154D) with some RHS 154B. At the base some green/white (RHS            157D).        -   Pedicel.—Length: about 30 mm. Diameter: about 3 mm. Texture:            glabrous and smooth. Color: At the flower white (RHS 155C)            which runs into yellow/green (RHS 145C) and then            yellow/green (RHS 145A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.        -   Column.—Length: about 10 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color:            white (RHS NN155B).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two. Diameter: about 1 mm. Color: orange            (RHS 24A).        -   Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm. Diameter: about 4 mm. Color:            white (RHS NN155B).-   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.    and to a high temperature about 30° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named‘Suri’, as illustrated and described herein.